Phone numbers shared across Twitter, Facebook, or Telegram are playing a dangerous, urgent role in Khartoum as armed conflict blocks humanitarian workers. With aid organizations paralyzed, Sudanese people rely on social networks to locate safe spaces, access food, and find healthcare.
People are turning to social networks because they can quickly identify safe and risky locations and use that information to obtain food and medical aid, according to Ozman al-Yamri, a coordinator with the Khartoum resistance committee who spoke by phone and said he does not receive support from any international organization or NGO. EFE reported the interview.
Sudan has a history of intermittent internet access during nationwide upheavals, including the 2019 protests that led to civilian transition demands and the 2021 military coup. Yet in this latest conflict, which began on the 15th and has claimed more than 400 lives, the internet remains a lifeline for many, enabling people to organize and sustain themselves amid one of the country’s deepest crises in recent memory.
Thirteen hospitals have been bombed since the conflict began, underscoring the danger faced by civilians and the fragility of critical health services.
Evacuation guide
Al Yamri belongs to the resistance committee, an informal neighborhood network formed in 2013 that gained prominence during the 2019 protests that ultimately toppled former dictator Omar al-Bashir. The group does not evacuate residents of the capital directly, but instead identifies safer routes and helps people move away from clashes between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces.
“We evacuated as human beings, not as civilians,” he notes, guiding residents toward safer exit paths from the capital. The network communicates with civilians via social networks and shares information with aid groups in settlements to obtain data on safe routes and shelters.
Stories of volunteers like Merghani Salah illustrate the commitment. Salah joined the effort out of a sense of duty, saying that help would be needed if the roles were reversed. The network even offers shelter for expatriate groups in Khartoum, with volunteers living in quiet, safer neighborhoods north of the city.
Despite uncertainty about which NGOs are currently assisting distressed individuals, residents in Gezira and North Khartoum report ongoing evacuation and sheltering efforts for people trapped under sustained gunfire. All of this work operates through social media, with volunteers coordinating across neighborhoods and networks.
Meanwhile, numerous humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, have suspended most operations due to volatility and danger. Those continuing to work do so in a highly limited fashion because of the intense fighting.
a life saver
As photos show missing supplies, medicines, and other essentials, Sudanese and other users increasingly use direct messages to reach out for help. Help lines are frequently shared in these app threads, and Telegram groups are used to request safe routes or even guidance on reaching neighboring Egypt.
Internet outages in Sudan have risen since the conflict began, largely due to power shortages and fueling difficulties for backup generators. NetBlocks, a London-based internet monitor, notes that providers were ordered to cut service, but many did not comply. Still, significant effort is made to maintain connectivity amid security concerns. Evacuations are organized online, according to NetBlocks.
The availability of internet access clearly saves lives and enables communities to coordinate relief under pressure. It remains a crucial channel for information, help, and shelter amid a rapidly evolving crisis.